Clip.



No. 758,547. PATENTED APR. 26, 19704.

'- D. E. MAPOTHER.

CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1902.

"N0 MODEL.

1- uonms PEYERS co FNQTDHTHQ, WASHlNGTOM o c UNITED STATES Patented April 26, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLIAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentllo. 758,547, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed May 13, 1902. Serial No. 107,116. (No model.)

dent of Louisville, in the county of J efferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Clip, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clip or sealing device for envelops, bags, and like articles which is simple and durable in construction, easily applied, and arranged to securely close the mouth of an envelop or bag to prevent the contents thereof from falling out and becoming lost while in transit and on removal of the device from the bag or envelop to allow postal or customs authorities or other persons to inspect the contents of the envelop or bag whenever it is necessary to do-s o, the device being also capable of fastening covers to deeds and of being used for other purposes.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then 2 5 pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corre- 0 sponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement as applied on an envelop, a portionof which is broken out. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross- 3 5 section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of the improvement as applied to anenvelop, part of which is broken out. Fig. 5 is a like view of another modified form of the improvement as applied to an envelop, part of which is broken out. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, the envelop being omitted. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another modified form of the improvement as applied to an envelop. Fig. 8 is a like view of another modified form of the improvement as applied to an envelop, part of which is broken out. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8,

the envelop being omitted; and Fig. 10 is a 5 front elevation of another modified form.

V The improved clip or sealing device is preferably made of spring-wire; but other suitable spring material may be used; and the said clip or sealing device, as illustrated in owing to their resiliency, can be readily 5 sprung into position to engage the under side of the fold D after the upper end of the envelop and its folded portion are forced between the clamping members A and B, as will be readily understood-by reference to Figs. 1. 7 2, and 3. The hooks C thus form retaining means to hold the clip or sealing device against accidental disengagement with or displacement from the article, so that the clamping members efiectively clamp the parts in position to prevent opening of the envelop or bag or to prevent loose sheets and covers engaged by the device from becoming disconnected.

The hooks C may have that portion resting upon the under side of the fold of varied shapes to enlarge the surface-engaging fold or may terminate in-points or sharp edges E for piercdue downward movement on the article, the

hooks C acting in a like manner to prevent upward movement of the clip or device. The form of the clamping members, the retainingmeans, and the locking device may be greatly varied, according to the intended use of the clip or sealing device, without deviating from my invention. For instance, the clip or sealing device shown in Fig. 4 is more especially designed for fastening papers to a cover, the arrangement permitting of adding sheets of paper to the ones already in place without detaching the clip. In this case the clamping members A and B when the clip is not in use lie in the same plane, and the rear clamping member B is U-shaped and connected at its ends by the longitudinally and inwardly extending connecting-bars F, with the divided parts of the front clamping member A terminating in outwardly-extending hooks C, adapted to engage the fold at the lower edge and back thereof, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4.

To insert additional sheets of paper, it is only necessary to raise the members A and insert the sheets under the fold, when upon the release of the members the sheets will be clamped and held in place.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 the front clamping member A has its divided portions connected with each other by the hook C for engaging the fold, as described above, and the rear member B is made in two parts, each terminating in a pin E adapted to engage or pierce the material at the back of the envelop D. (See Fig. 6.)

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7 the 'hook C connects the parts of the front clamping member A with each other, the front and rear clamping members having their ends spiral shaped.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear clamping member B is U-shaped and connected by the connecting-bars F with the parts of the front clamping member A each terminating in a hook C, which may have a forwardly-extending pin E to pierce the inside portion of the fold D of the envelop D.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 10 the clip is made of an integral length of springwire formed intermediate of its ends into V- shapcd clamps F and G for engaging the exterior of the folded body, the ends of the spring-wire being bent abruptly to form hooks H for engaging the interior of the folded body. The hooks H are preferably formed into eyes at their ends, so as not to present sharp edges, and flattened or not, as may be preferred.

From the foregoing it is evident that the clip is very simple and durable in construction and can be readily applied to close the mouth of envelops, bags, and the like or to fasten covers to deeds and other papers, it being understood, however, that in each casethe hook or hooks engage the inner edge of the folded part, so as to prevent accidental displacement or detachment of the clip from the parts engaged, and if used the points or sharp edges pierce the material of the parts engaged to securely lock the clip or sealing device in position.

I do not limit myself to the form of clip shown and described, as it is obvious that it can be readily made into various other shapes without deviating from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A clip or sealing device for bags, envelops, covers and other articles having a fold, comprising front and rear spring clamping members of approximately equal length, connected together and adapted to securely clamp the article inserted between the members, the connecting portions of the members forming saddles to rest upon the top edge of the article, and an upwardly-extending spring retaining means on one of the members, adapted to be sprung in place underneath the fold and to clamp said fold against the part from which it is projected, as set forth.

2. A clip or sealing device for bags, en-

velops, covers and other articles having a fold,

comprising front and rear registering spring clamping members connected together and adapted to securely clamp the article inserted between the members,the connecting portions of said members forming saddles to rest upon the top edge of the article, upwardly-opening spring retaining means on one of the members, said means being adapted to be sprung in place underneath the fold, and an integral locking means on the clip, to pierce the material of the article inserted between the clamping members, as set forth.

3. A clip or sealing device for bags, en-

velops, covers and other articles having a fold,

comprising front and rear registering spring clamping members connected together and adapted to securely clamp the article inserted between the members, the connecting portion of the members forming saddles to rest upon the upper edge of the article, and upwardlyopening spring-hooks on one of the members, adapted to be sprung in place underneath the fold, as set forth.

4-. A clip or sealing device for bags, envelops, covers and other articles, comprising front and rear spring clamping members, of which the rear member is made U shape and the front clamping member-is similarly shaped and divided, the ends of the divided parts of the front member terminating in upwardlyopening hooks for engaging the under side of the fold, as set forth.

5. A clip or sealing device for bags, envelops,. covers and other articles, comprising front and rear spring clamping members, of which the rear member is made U shape and the front clamping member is similarly shaped and divided, the ends of the divided parts of the front member terminating in upwardlyopening hooks, engaging the fold, and the said I said folded body and clamp the fold against hooks having sharpened portions for piercing the material of the bag, as set forth.

6. A clip made of an integral length of spring-Wire, said wire being formed into U- shaped'clamping members for engaging the exterior of a folded body, one of said members having its ends bent to form upwardlyopening hooks for engaging the interior of the parts from Which the hooks extend.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witness'es.

DILLON EDWARD MAPOTHER.

Witnesses:

A. L. FARRIS, JULIAN R. HUFFMAN. 

